Radial Lenticular Blending Effect

ABSTRACT

A method of integrating a radial zoom effect with a complementary radial image transition effect includes integrating the effects such that the two blended radial effects share a common center, and thereby share common displacement paths during the perceived transition. In addition to the visual appeal of the effect, the invention also resolves operational incompatibilities between the practice of commercial photography and the practice of lenticular printing. A lenticular product is formed in accordance with this method.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 61/514,311, filed Aug. 2, 2011, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to the preparation and production of images foruse in conjunction with a lenticular lens array and more particularlyrelates to a lenticular product that is formed using a radial lenticularblending effect.

BACKGROUND

Refractive overlays can be used in various ways to produce images ofvariable aspect. Lenticular lens arrays are a class of refractive arraythat most typically includes a set of lenses of cylindrical geometryarranged in a parallel manner. A specially prepared image may be fixedlymated to a lenticular array in such a way that that the image's aspectchanges with a shift in the relative positions of the observer and thelenticular image. Alternately, separately mounted imagery may bedisplaced relative to a suitably positioned lenticular array so that achange in aspect is made visible to a stationary observer.

The modern practice of lenticular imaging has come to encompassesdiverse transitions, including shifts of color, text, scale, and contentas well as autostereoscopic and animation effects.

The special preparation of the image includes the step commonly known asinterlacing. Interlacing combines image information from two or moreimages in a finely interleaved pattern that is coordinated with thepitch of the lenses. Interlacing in this manner briefly predates theinvention of lenticular imaging, as it was initially proposed in 1896 byAuguste Berthier to promote a stereoscopic effect in conjunction with aparallax barrier screen.

A mechanically activated lenticular system is described in U.S. Pat. No.592,631 to Hollander. In Hollander, the effects are limited togeometrical and chromatic patterns and does not expressly include anyinterlacing step. U.S. Pat. No. 624,042 to Jacobson describes theinterlacing of right and left views. U.S. Pat. No. 624,043, also toJacobson, combines this interlaced print with a corrugated transparentsheet to produce the first record of a lenticular “Stereograph”.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,150,374 to Kanolt recommends the use of many sourceimages to produce a lenticular picture that simulates a continuoustransition. The patent includes the fundamental calculations needed toproperly compose such an image and locate such interposed multi-viewimagery in optimal cooperation with a lenticular array.

Each of the U.S. Patents referenced herein is expressly incorporated byreference in its entirety.

Kanolt suggests various effects that may be obtained by this means,including an effect continuous motion. Kanolt also discloses that themethod may equally be applied to convey temporal changes, such as animpression of growth of a plant or animal, or gradual shifts in thefacial expression or facial features of a human subject.

The current core practice of preparing a lenticular image departs littlein concept from Kanolt's descriptions from 1915, although the interlacedimage in now principally composed using image processing software ratherthan earlier optomechanical methods.

Current lenticular software often includes options described by theterms 3D, flip, or zoom. A 3D image may be derived from a real scene, orsynthesized from a layered image file composed in an image editingapplication. A lenticular image that exhibits an abrupt transitionbetween images, whose subject matter may electively be related orunrelated, is known as a flip image. A zoom image is an image that showsa transition of text or image from one scale to another.

In the common understanding, a zoom image may be said to differ from thegrowth illusion described by Kanolt in that in a zoom image there is norepresentation of a passage of time. In a lenticular zoom image, asingle source image is resampled at differing scales to ultimately drawattention to a particular area of the broader source image, much as azoom lens would be used in videography.

Lenticular zoom images can vary in their composition or effect. Forexample, the zoom effect may be pervasive and continuous across theangular viewing range, or may be devised to occur only between tworelatively static “zoomed out” and “zoomed in” phases. The zoomtransition may be made to appear as a seamless radial blur, or maypresent a distinguishable set of progressively scaled versions of thesource image.

SUMMARY

The present invention describes a method of integrating a radial zoomeffect with a complementary radial image transition effect. Theintegrated effect may be agreeably devised such that the two blendedradial effects share a common center, and thereby share commondisplacement paths during the perceived transition. In addition to thevisual appeal of the effect, the invention also resolves operationalincompatibilities between the practice of commercial photography and thepractice of lenticular printing.

The present invention can thus employ a blending function, such as analpha channel, which determines the degree of contribution of the secondimage with respect to the first image. In other words, the blendingfunction employed in the present invention controls the degree (level)of visibility of the second image relative to the first image.

In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a lineatedprinted image for use in cooperation with a lenticular lens material toform a lenticular product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a schematic of an exemplary computer system incorporating theteachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary lenticular product madein accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic flow chart showing the major operations in anembodiment prepared in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a series of files that contribute to aninterlaced alpha channel;

FIG. 5 show a lenticular print in a first viewing phase in which thevisible subject is a group;

FIG. 6 shows the lenticular print of FIG. 5 in a second phase, thesecond phase being state of transition, showing the complementary radialeffects of the zoom effect and the radial fade effect; and

FIG. 7 shows the lenticular print of FIG. 5 in a third phase in whichthe visible subject is an individual.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS

Commercial photographers are commonly called upon to take groupphotographs for schools, athletic teams, weddings, family reunions,conferences, company events, and other associations. In such aninstance, it has been found that a lenticular zoom effect could in somecases be used to derive an appealing and readily marketable photographicproduct. For example, a team photo could be used as the source for alenticular image that showed the team as a whole, and then zoomed in ona given player.

However, in the implementation of this practice, certain technical andpractical limitations were encountered. First, when the group beingcaptured exceeded a relatively small number, the area occupied by anindividual within the group image was often of insufficient resolutionto provide an adequate “zoomed in” image.

It may be appreciated that this reprocessing of a single still image tosimulate a zoom effect differs from optical zooming in photography orvideography, in which the sensor resolution is constant. It has beenfound that the resolution in the targeted area is further limited by thecommon commercial practice of including a large background margin aroundthe group. In this way, the image may be cropped and framed withoutencroaching on the subject group. However this practices reduces thenumber of images that are amenable to a lenticular zoom effect.

Perhaps more importantly, zooming in on an individual member of thegroup requires that that person be identified, and the target regionaround the subject defined by a four sets of x, y coordinates. Both theindexing of individuals within a group photograph and the locating ofthe corner coordinates of the target add greatly to the usual workflowof professional photographers.

However, the workflow of a photography session commonly generates notonly a group image, but images of individual or subgroups. These may beimages of individual athletic players, or of branches of a family at alarge reunion. Regardless, as the more specific subjects are capturedseparately at full sensor resolution, the images of these individuals orsubgroups do not encounter the resolution barrier previously described.

Furthermore, the recordkeeping associating the more specific image withthe more comprehensive image is a part of the existing professionalphotographic workflow. Therefore, while it was found that manyphotographers could not consistently provide the imagery and informationneeded to generate a conventional lenticular zoom, it was found thatphotographers could invariably provide a potentially adaptable pair ofrelated but independently captured images.

FIG. 2 shows a conventional lenticular product 90. The product 90 isformed of a transparent lenticular (lens) sheet 92 that has a pluralityof lenticules 94 formed thereon. The plurality of lenticules is arrayedin parallel to form a lenticulated surface having vertices and valleys.On a planar rear surface of the lenticular sheet 92, an interlaced printimage layer 96 is provided. A backing layer 98 can be provided with theinterlaced print image layer 96 being disposed between the backing layer98 and the lenticular sheet 92.

In lenticular imaging, two such images would normally be combined tosimply flip from one to another. However, a significant number ofphotographers and their retail customers found the straightforward flipwanting relative to the more dynamic zoom effect. The invention istherefore directed to the provision of an appealing radial transition inthe absence of the data set required for a conventional targeted zoom.

In a practice of the present invention, two source images and anintermediate digital filter are employed in a conscientious manner. Theintermediate digital filter may be represented in a visual interface byan alpha channel, but it should be appreciated that the filter may befully integrated in an image processing application, and thereforeembodied in software alone.

It should be noted that the following description is intended to make aclear description of the ultimate image structure of the integratedradial image. It should be understood that, depending upon theparticular properties of the software or hardware, efficient renderingof the interlaced image formed in accordance with the invention canimply vastly different processing paths and data streams. Renderinghardware may include single or plural cores, single or plural CPUs,single or plural GPUs, and may also include local or remote servers orclusters. Software may be diversely composed and compiled. For example,processes which are described below may at the core level be executed indiscrete data blocks rather as a series of fully realized images orchannels.

More particularly, the present invention is part of a computer systemfor creating a lenticular product that has a radial lenticular blendingeffect as described herein. The referenced systems and methods are nowdescribed more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich one or more illustrated embodiments and/or arrangements of thesystems and methods are shown. The systems and methods are not limitedin any way to the illustrated embodiments and/or arrangements as theillustrated embodiments and/or arrangements described below are merelyexemplary of the systems and methods, which can be embodied in variousforms, as appreciated by one skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to beunderstood that any structural and functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting the systems and methods, butrather are provided as a representative embodiment and/or arrangementfor teaching one skilled in the art one or more ways to implement thesystems and methods. Accordingly, aspects of the present systems andmethods can take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software,micro-code, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardware. Oneof skill in the art can appreciate that a software process can betransformed into an equivalent hardware structure, and a hardwarestructure can itself be transformed into an equivalent software process.Thus, the selection of a hardware implementation versus a softwareimplementation is one of design choice and left to the implementer.Furthermore, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to belimiting, but rather are to provide an understandable description of thesystems and methods.

An exemplary computer system is shown as a block diagram in FIG. 1 whichis a high-level diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of asystem 10 for creating a radial lenticular blending effect and inparticular, for forming a merged radial effect file that is used togenerate a lenticular print image that is part of a lenticular product.In one implementation, computing device 15 can be a personal computer orserver. In other implementations, computing device 15 can be a tabletcomputer, a laptop computer, or a mobile device/smartphone, though itshould be understood that computing device 15 of the present system 10can be practically any computing device and/or data processing apparatuscapable of embodying the systems and/or methods described herein.

Computing device 15 of the system 10 includes a circuit board 14, suchas a motherboard, which is operatively connected to various hardware andsoftware components that serve to enable operation of the lenticularimaging system 10. The circuit board 14 is operatively connected to aprocessor 11 and a memory 12. Processor 11 serves to executeinstructions for software that can be loaded into memory 12. Processor11 can be a number of processors, a multi-processor core, or some othertype of processor, depending on the particular implementation. Further,processor 11 can be implemented using a number of heterogeneousprocessor systems in which a main processor is present with secondaryprocessors on a single chip. As another illustrative example, processor11 can be a symmetric multi-processor system containing multipleprocessors of the same type.

Preferably, memory 12 and/or storage 19 are accessible by processor 11,thereby enabling processor 11 to receive and execute instructions storedon memory 12 and/or on storage 19. Memory 12 can be, for example, arandom access memory (RAM) or any other suitable volatile ornon-volatile computer readable storage medium. In addition, memory 12can be fixed or removable. Storage 19 can take various forms, dependingon the particular implementation. For example, storage 19 can containone or more components or devices such as a hard drive, a flash memory,a rewritable optical disk, a rewritable magnetic tape, or somecombination of the above. Storage 19 also can be fixed or removable.

One or more software modules 13 are encoded in storage 190 and/or inmemory 12. The software modules 13 can comprise one or more softwareprograms or applications having computer program code or a set ofinstructions executed in processor 11. Such computer program code orinstructions for carrying out operations for aspects of the systems andmethods disclosed herein can be written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Java, Smalltalk, C++, Python, and JavaScript or thelike and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C”programming language or similar programming languages. The program codecan execute entirely on computing device 15, partly on computing device15, as a stand-alone software package, partly on computing device 15 andpartly on a remote computer/device, or entirely on the remotecomputer/device or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computercan be connected to computing device 15 through any type of network,including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), orthe connection can be made to an external computer (for example, throughthe Internet 16 using an Internet Service Provider).

One or more software modules 13, including program code/instructions,are located in a functional form on one or more computer readablestorage devices (such as memory 12 and/or storage 19) that can beselectively removable. The software modules 13 can be loaded onto ortransferred to computing device 15 for execution by processor 11. It canalso be said that the program code of software modules 13 and one ormore computer readable storage devices (such as memory 12 and/or storage19) form a computer program product that can be manufactured and/ordistributed in accordance with the present invention, as is known tothose of ordinary skill in the art.

It should be understood that in some illustrative embodiments, one ormore of software modules 13 can be downloaded over a network to storage19 from another device or system via communication interface 15 for usewithin gemstone registration system 10. For instance, program codestored in a computer readable storage device in a server can bedownloaded over a network from the server to gemstone registrationsystem 10.

Preferably, included among the software modules 13 is a lenticularimaging application 17 that is executed by processor 11. Duringexecution of the software modules 13, and specifically the lenticularimaging application 17, the processor 11 configures the circuit board 14to perform various operations relating to product arrangementdetermination with computing device 15, as will be described in greaterdetail below. It should be understood that while software modules 13and/or lenticular imaging application 17 can be embodied in any numberof computer executable formats, in certain implementations softwaremodules 13 and/or lenticular imaging application 17 comprise one or moreapplications that are configured to be executed at computing device 15in conjunction with one or more applications or ‘apps’ executing atremote devices, such as computing device(s) 30, 32, and/or 34 and/or oneor more viewers such as internet browsers and/or proprietaryapplications. Furthermore, in certain implementations, software modules13 and/or lenticular imaging application 17 can be configured to executeat the request or selection of a user of one of computing devices 30,32, and/or 34 (or any other such user having the ability to execute aprogram in relation to computing device 15, such as a networkadministrator), while in other implementations computing device 15 canbe configured to automatically execute software modules 13 and/orlenticular imaging application 17, without requiring an affirmativerequest to execute. It should also be noted that while FIG. 26 depictsmemory 12 oriented on circuit board 14, in an alternate arrangement,memory 12 can be operatively connected to the circuit board 14. Inaddition, it should be noted that other information and/or data relevantto the operation of the present systems and methods (such as database18) can also be stored on storage 19, as will be discussed in greaterdetail below.

Also preferably stored on storage 19 is database 18. As will bedescribed in greater detail below, database 18 contains and/or maintainsvarious data items and elements that are utilized throughout the variousoperations of lenticular imaging system 10, including but not imagefiles 40, blending instructions (alpha channel files) 42, etc., as willbe described in greater detail herein. It should be noted that althoughdatabase 18 is depicted as being configured locally to computing device15, in certain implementations database 18 and/or various of the dataelements stored therein can be located remotely (such as on a remotedevice or server—not shown) and connected to computing device 15 throughnetwork 16, in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Communication interface 50 is also operatively connected to circuitboard 14. Communication interface 50 can be any interface that enablescommunication between the computing device 15 and external devices,machines and/or elements. Preferably, communication interface 50includes, but is not limited to, a modem, a Network Interface Card(NIC), an integrated network interface, a radio frequencytransmitter/receiver (e.g., Bluetooth, cellular, NFC), a satellitecommunication transmitter/receiver, an infrared port, a USB connection,and/or any other such interfaces for connecting computing device 15 toother computing devices and/or communication networks such as privatenetworks and the Internet. Such connections can include a wiredconnection or a wireless connection (e.g. using the 802.11 standard)though it should be understood that communication interface 50 can bepractically any interface that enables communication to/from the circuitboard 14.

In the description that follows, certain embodiments and/or arrangementsare described with reference to acts and symbolic representations ofoperations that are performed by one or more devices, such as thelenticular imaging system 10 of FIG. 1. As such, it will be understoodthat such acts and operations, which are at times referred to as beingcomputer-executed or computer-implemented, include the manipulation byprocessor 11 of electrical signals representing data in a structuredform. This manipulation transforms the data and/or maintains them atlocations in the memory system of the computer (such as memory 12 and/orstorage 19), which reconfigures and/or otherwise alters the operation ofthe system in a manner understood by those skilled in the art. The datastructures in which data are maintained are physical locations of thememory that have particular properties defined by the format of thedata. However, while an embodiment is being described in the foregoingcontext, it is not meant to provide architectural limitations to themanner in which different embodiments can be implemented. The differentillustrative embodiments can be implemented in a system includingcomponents in addition to or in place of those illustrated for thegemstone registration system 10. Other components shown in FIG. 1 can bevaried from the illustrative examples shown. The different embodimentscan be implemented using any hardware device or system capable ofrunning program code. In another illustrative example, lenticularimaging system 10 can take the form of a hardware unit that has circuitsthat are manufactured or configured for a particular use. This type ofhardware can perform operations without needing program code to beloaded into a memory from a computer readable storage device to beconfigured to perform the operations.

For example, computing device 15 can take the form of a circuit system,an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logicdevice, or some other suitable type of hardware configured to perform anumber of operations. With a programmable logic device, the device isconfigured to perform the number of operations. The device can bereconfigured at a later time or can be permanently configured to performthe number of operations. Examples of programmable logic devicesinclude, for example, a programmable logic array, programmable arraylogic, a field programmable logic array, a field programmable gatearray, and other suitable hardware devices. With this type ofimplementation, software modules 13 can be omitted because the processesfor the different embodiments are implemented in a hardware unit.

In still another illustrative example, computing device 15 can beimplemented using a combination of processors found in computers andhardware units. Processor 11 can have a number of hardware units and anumber of processors that are configured to execute software modules 13.In this example, some of the processors can be implemented in the numberof hardware units, while other processors can be implemented in thenumber of processors.

In another example, a bus system can be implemented and can be comprisedof one or more buses, such as a system bus or an input/output bus. Ofcourse, the bus system can be implemented using any suitable type ofarchitecture that provides for a transfer of data between differentcomponents or devices attached to the bus system. Additionally,communications interface 50 can include one or more devices used totransmit and receive data, such as a modem or a network adapter.

Embodiments and/or arrangements can be described in a general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines,programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that performparticular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.

It should be further understood that while the various computing devicesand machines referenced herein, including but not limited to computingdevice 15, computing devices 30, 32, and 34 are referred to herein asindividual/single devices and/or machines, in certain implementationsthe referenced devices and machines, and their associated and/oraccompanying operations, features, and/or functionalities can bearranged or otherwise employed across any number of devices and/ormachines, such as over a network connection, as is known to those ofskill in the art.

It is to be understood that like numerals in the drawings represent likeelements through the several figures, and that not all components and/orsteps described and illustrated with reference to the figures arerequired for all embodiments or arrangements. It should also beunderstood that the embodiments, implementations, and/or arrangements ofthe systems and methods disclosed herein can be incorporated as asoftware algorithm, application, program, module, or code residing inhardware, firmware and/or on a computer useable medium (includingsoftware modules and browser plug-ins) that can be executed in aprocessor of a computer system or a computing device to configure theprocessor and/or other elements to perform the functions and/oroperations described herein. It should be appreciated that according toat least one embodiment, one or more computer programs, modules, and/orapplications that when executed perform methods of the present inventionneed not reside on a single computer or processor, but can bedistributed in a modular fashion amongst a number of different computersor processors to implement various aspects of the systems and methodsdisclosed herein.

Thus, illustrative embodiments and arrangements of the present systemsand methods provide a computer implemented method, computer system, andcomputer program product for determining product arrangements. The blockdiagram in the figures illustrates the architecture, functionality, andoperation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computerprogram products according to various embodiments and arrangements. Inthis regard, each block in the block diagram can represent a module,segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executableinstructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). Itshould also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, thefunctions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in thefigure. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, beexecuted substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes beexecuted in the reverse order, depending upon the functionalityinvolved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagramsand/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the blockdiagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions oracts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computerinstructions.

Turning now to one exemplary embodiment of the invention, two images arechosen to be integrated into a lenticular image using the system 10. Theimages need not be restricted to any particular content to make use ofthe invention. They may, for example, be drawings or renderings made bymanual or synthetic means, as long as the materials can reasonably bemade amenable to the invention.

The given example is intended for use with a lenticular lens materialthat is oriented such that the lenses run horizontally. Handheldanimations take this form, while fixedly mounted animations usevertically disposed lenses, so that the transition is visible as theobserver passes by. The invention is intended to include bothimplementations.

The following example describes an interlaced lenticular image that isderived from two scenes and an alpha channel. An alpha channel isexpressed through a visual interface as a grayscale image, but servescomputationally to selectively divide the contribution of two images ona pixel-by-pixel basis. The nominal grayscale value of each pixel in analpha channel indicates the computational partition, with a 50% grayrepresenting an even contribution from each image.

Referring now to the flow chart of FIG. 3, first image 100 isexemplified by a group photograph. A group photograph may include anynumber of individuals, who may be posed in various ways compatible withthe practice of the art. Second image 200 is exemplified here by aphotograph of an individual subject. The second image may be morebroadly imagined to be any sort of image, including but not limited to asubset of the collection of individuals in the first image. The dottedline indicates that these files represent the original source medium,regardless of the type.

It should again be emphasized that the invention is effective withoutstrict requirements concerning the relationship between the twocontributing images. For example, a first image might show a graduatingclass, while the second might show one of those graduates along withfriends or family who were not captured in the group photograph. Anathlete might have been absent from a team photo, but may have beenavailable for the session in which individual portraits were captured.Neither of the preceding situations entails the subjects of the secondimage being a subset of the subjects of the first, but bothcircumstances are regularly encountered in practice.

Returning to FIG. 3, first image 100 and second image 200 may then bescanned, cropped and resampled as required so that they are matched inresolution, aspect ratio, and nominal dimension and stored as compatibledigital data. Changes may also be made to the file type, the dynamicrange, the color profile or other properties to render the two filestechnically or visually aligned with the subsequent process. Thecollective result of these steps is correlated first image 101 andcorrelated second image 201, indicated by the solid rectangularperimeters.

Correlated first image 101 is subsequently used as a source file forproducing a zoom image. In the invention, the zoomed area does not needto target a particular subject, but may have its center at any pointwithin the more comprehensive image.

FIG. 3 shows targeted zoom area 110, here selected to be about one-thirdof the width of Correlated first image 100 and chosen to be centered onthe larger image. The targeted area shown inherits the aspect-ratio ofthe parent correlated first image 101. Intermediate scaling frames 102,104, and 106 are indicated by rectangles of lighter line weight.

While three are shown, the number of intermediate scaling frames iselective, and would often in practice be greater.

During a later interlacing step, multiple images are rendered into aninterlaced file at the output resolution of a chosen printing device. Ina practice that is well understood in the trade, the printer's outputresolution and the lens pitch define the number of lines of image datathat can be located behind a single lens.

The number of scaling frames can be chosen in mind of this value. In thesimple case where the number of lines associated with each lens is aninteger value, the intermediate frames can correspond to individuallines of printed data over which the transition occurs.

Ultimately, each lenticular lens will be associated with a given lensfield. In the practice of the present invention, it has been found thatit is often advantageous to limit the contributory zoom effect roughlyto the central third of lens field. The two margins of the lens fieldare assigned to the stable expression of the two terminal images.

The number of intermediate frames elected may be informed by theseunderstandings. For example, if the chosen printer produces exactly 18lines per lens, six lines might be assigned to the original “zoomed out”image, six to the “zoomed in” image, and six to the intermediate scaledtransitions. Integer values such as these are normally only attainablewhen the resolution of the elected output device is freely adjustable.In this case, eight files would need to be available for theinterlacing, with the first and last files repeatedly accessed.

In the case where the lens pitch and the resolution of the output deviceare both fixed, the image may be resampled to match the lens pitch. Asthe number of views may then include a fractional value, it may readilybe understood that it is not necessary to match the number ofintermediate scaled views to the printer output. When the number ofviews dedicated to each lens is a non-integer value, the interlacingprocess resorts to a resampling of the composite image to reconcile theinterlaced data with a targeted output resolution.

Irrespective of the system used, if the number of scaled views is lessthan the number of lines to which it is assigned, the interlacing steprenders the views to more than one line of data. If the number of scaledviews provided exceeds the available output resolution, plural viewswill be blended within each rendered line within the interlaced image.

In the case of a zoom image, these results do not corrupt or disable thezoom effect, but merely provide different transitional effects.Nevertheless, while such impressions are somewhat subjective, it hasbeen found that an approximate match between the number of intermediatescaled frames and the number of lines available at the output resolutionresults in a zoom effect that is visually fluid, but which does notimpart an undue processing burden. In practice this commonly entails thegeneration of five to ten intermediate scaled images.

In the process of generating a zoom image, the coordinates of theintermediate scaling frames may be established by taking the dimensionaldifference between the full image and the target area, then dividing theintervening margin by i+1, where i is the elected number of intermediatescaling frames, and adding those values progressively to the coordinatesof the target area. This method results in a regular linear croppingsequence.

These designated regions may electively be upsampled to the same rasterresolution as the two terminal frames. However, since the series ofimages is typically downsampled in the cross-lens axis in theinterlacing operation, unnecessary information losses may be avoided byrendering the selected areas directly to this anamorphic format, asexemplified by the dotted lines leading to pre-interlacing file queue120.

Generally speaking, owing to the axially biased optical effect of thelenses, it is often most efficient to render, resample, or store certainphases of the imaging process anamorphically. This practice may beapplied not only in the scaling of the target area and the intermediateviews. It may be considered unnecessary to resample any image, in theaxis of relevance, to a resolution that exceeds the number of lensesthat will be present in the physical lenticular image.

By way of a simplified example, if the pitch of the lenses is 75 lensesper inch, and the output device is capable of 1200 dots per inch (dpi),sixteen views can be available to each lens. However, the resolution inthe axis that parallels the lenses may not need to exceed 300 dots perinch. In this case, the interlaced file can be efficiently rendered to aresolution of 300×1200 pixels per inch (ppi). By implication, each ofthe sixteen views that contribute to that image need only encompass aresolution of 300×75 ppi. This circumstance implies an anamorphic ratioof 4:1, but that exact value represents this idealized case.

Returning now to the set of suitable anamorphic images in thepre-intelarcing file queue, it may be appreciated that this file set canbe intermittently addressed on a line-by-line basis to progressivelycompose an interlaced file. This process is indicated by the conversionof pre-intelarcing file queue 120 into interlaced first image file 130.The resulting interlaced file may electively also be generated atanamorphic file, for example have an approximate 4:1 ratio. An elongateproportion is suggested by the vertical expansion of interlaced firstimage file 130.

This preceding description of generating a zoom effect is schematic andis included here in the interest of enablement and thoroughness ofdescription. It may be imagined that there are many variations in theprocess of generating and reproducing a zoom effect, and that there arediverse mechanisms in lenticular imaging for reducing processing timeand minimizing file size.

Particularly, in, the illustrations and descriptions in the service ofthe disclosing procedures of the invention should not be taken at anystage to exclusively require proportional, i.e., non-anamorphic,resolution, as such a quality is only required upon output.

Lenticular images formed according to the present invention combine apreestablished zoom effect with a second effect that proceeds in asimilar radial manner. The process typically first generates a zoomimage from standard coordinates that are embedded in the software thatgenerates the zoom imagery.

In accordance with the present invention a blending function is employedwhich determines the degree of contribution of the second image withrespect to the first image. It will be appreciated that the blendingfunction can be part of a software program that allows the blending oftwo images (the first and second images) by a pixel by pixel basis andaccording to a predetermined ratio. In other words, the blendingfunction employed in the present invention controls the degree (level)of visibility of the second image relative to the first image. In thismanner, as the lenticular product is manipulated, the second imageprogressively becomes more visible in accordance with the blendingfunction. The blending function can thus be thought to include anddriven by a set of blending instructions for each pixel and in the formof a lenticular product, such as the present invention, the blendinginstructions are integrated into the formation of an interlaced printimage that is used in the lenticular product.

In one embodiment, the blending function employed in the imaging processof the present invention is an alpha channel based system. However, itwill be appreciated that a software application can be employed toconstruct a predetermined blending function in which the degree ofvisibility of the second image relative to the first image is programmedon a pixel by pixel basis so as to create a final interlaced blendedimage (file) that serves as the basis for the interlaced print imagelayer that is part of the lenticular product.

Alpha channels are masks through which you can display images. The alphachannel can be an 8-bit channel, which means it has 256 levels of grayfrom 0 (black) to 255 (white). White acts as the visible area; blackacts as the transparent area (you see the background behind the imagewhen displayed). The level of gray in between determines the level ofvisibility. For example, 50 percent gray allows for 50 percentvisibility. Alpha channels are usually used with 16.8M color RGB images.The resulting image is called RGBA (RGB+A, A means alpha channel). Analpha channel is thus an additional channel that can be added to animage that contains information (such as transparency information) aboutthe image and depending upon the type of alpha it can contact variouslevels of transparency (as discussed herein). The alpha channel (imageblending software) essentially controls the transparency of all of theother channels. Various alpha channels include but are not limited topre-multiplied alpha and straight alpha.

The blending function can thus be thought of as providing blendinginstructions which can be expressed as blending values (colors) for eachpixel. Alpha blending is thus a combination of two colors allowing fortransparency effects in computer graphics which in turn allows the printimage to be formed and printed.

The use and role of the blending function is described below.

The second image, which will be viewed as a still phase in the finalimage, is then applied through a specialized alpha channel so that itbecomes an inseparable part of a single image file. While the secondimage is not interlaced, it is expressed through an alpha channel whichhas been interlaced at the same spatial frequency as the zoom effect. Inthis way, the eventual visual emergence of the second image isintegrated with the interlaced zoom image structure.

Referring now to the central column in FIG. 3, the first box is marked“ALPHA” to denote that this file is not a visual image but a maskingtool comprising a single data channel. The alpha channel developmentprocess will ultimately result a file that is interlaced at the samepitch as the zoom image. The series of files that contribute to theconstruction of the interlaced alpha channel are represented by alphafile set 310. The alpha file set is depicted more descriptively in FIG.4. It may be observed in FIG. 4 that there is a deliberate progressionin the alpha file set.

This may be attained by using interlacing software with a set ofgrayscale images serving as the source images. In the invention, thegrayscale source images are produced as a series, each successive frameultimately contributing a specific and progressive transition. Thetransition is consistent with the visual rationale of the invention.

In viewed images made in accordance with the invention, the second imagetakes the place of the “zoomed in” version of image, in that it providesthe second, relatively stable terminal phase of the viewed image. Thealpha channel must therefore be conscientiously devised so that thesecond image overtakes the zooming effect before it becomes obvious thatthe zoom is centered on an arbitrary location in the image.

Therefore, like the zoom effect previously described, the alpha channelmust promote the transition in the central phase of the angular field.In practice, the zoom effect and the radial fade-in therefore typicallyoccur within the same lines of pixels. For example, in the previouslycited case in which each lens is associated with 18 lines of image data,the fade-in and the partial zoom might be made to occur within the samesix central lines.

The zoom effect begins as a series of images of increasingly magnifiedscale. In the invention, at the moment this zoom effect is initiated, asecondary transitional effect is introduced at the center of the zoom.The secondary transition effect eventually fully overtakes the zoomeffect and exposes the second image unambiguously to view.

It has furthermore been discovered in the practice of the invention thatthe secondary effect is particularly effective and consistentlycomplementary to the partial zoom effect when the initial introductionof the second image is relatively indistinct in its boundaries, butbecomes increasingly distinct as the second image is seen to approachthe image perimeter. This progression can be controlled by theconscientious editing of the gradients within the series of images thatcontribute to the interlaced alpha channel.

More specifically, the sequence of grayscale images proceeds from arelatively gradual transitional boundary gradient to a relatively abruptboundary gradient. Such a series may be generated by various means in animage editing program. For example, the grayscale patterns may be madeusing a gradient tool with predetermined set points.

Set points may include the starting and ending grayscale values, thegradient length, and the progression of the rate of change in value.Alternately, the gradient series may be made using selection andblurring tools. The gradient files may also be directly defined bynumerical values and image coordinates.

These properties may be imagined in reference to FIG. 4, althoughneither solid black nor grayscale gradients can be directly illustrated.The checkered pattern here represents solid black in the normal graphicexpression of the alpha channel. Black file set 312 includes arepetition of files generating entirely black pixel values. First alphatransition file 316A represents the first departure from an all-blackfile state. The encircled white area need not attain a white value evenat its lightest pixel, and may electively have a peak brightness at itscenter of 25% white or less.

Final alpha transition file 316F shows the white area nearly overtakingthe entire rectangular image area. Intermediate alpha transition files316B, 316C, 316D, and 316E depict a progression between the first andfinal transition files.

The contour of the selected area (shown here as white) need not remainthe same throughout the transition. For example, as exemplified in FIG.4, the initial frame of the alpha series may be a circular radialgradient that progresses through a increasingly rectangular phases untilit substantially attains the aspect ratio of the finished image. It maybe appreciated that this file set is freely editable. In addition tosimple geometric variations, it may also have, at one state orthroughout the transition, a stellate or irregular contour.

Regardless or the set of gradients chosen, it is generally advantageousin the invention to prepare the alpha series so that the introduction ofthe second image is initiated in the same vicinity where the zoom targetarea is centered. This location may be by default the measured center ofthe image, but may foreseeably be placed at another locale ifcircumstances demand.

The alpha series is concluded with a set of nominally white frames 318.As noted here, these pictures should be understood simply as convenientexpressions of computational values. While three outlines are shown forthe purpose of illustration, the black and white places in the queue mayeach equal the number of transitional frames, anticipating the evenpartition of the viewed angular field angular between the first image,the mixed zoom/fade transition, and the second image.

Returning now to the flow chart of FIG. 3, the alpha file set 310 isshown being processed to form alpha file queue 320. A rationale forarchiving an alpha file set at normal resolution is that the file setmay be accessed and converted into a suitable interlacing queue ofanamorphic images for any size, aspect ratio, or lens orientation.

Alpha file queue 320 is then interlaced as required to correspond to infrequency of the prior zoom image. This process results in an interlacedalpha channel 330, which in the illustrated case shares the anamorphicproportions of interlaced first image file 130.

Correlated second image 200, which is exemplified by the image of anindividual subject, is then resampled to form resampled second image 230in order to match the proportions of the interlaced image and theinterlaced alpha channel. The alpha channel is then used as a selectionmask to integrate the interlaced zoom image and the static second image.

The result of this combination is merged radial effect file 400, whichat this point is kept in anamorphic state. Prior to output to a printingdevice calling for symmetrical resolution, the file may be expanded tonormal proportions, as represented by proportional radial effect file410.

It may be appreciated that printers often receive streaming data, sothat the proportional file may not always be embodied as a digitalrecord, but may result in the conscientious repetition of line data froman anamorphic file source. In any case, the eventual printed imageshould, by whatever means, be rendered to its intended proportions.

FIGS. 5 through 7 inclusive illustrate the behavior of observedlenticular image 500 as it is rotated through its relevant angularrange. The rotation is indicated by the curved arrow, but in practicemay be in either direction, depending upon the manner of composition ofthe image.

While the lenticular lenses are left out of the drawing for the sake ofclarity of illustration, lenses in this exemplary case would be presentand would run horizontally. FIG. 5 shows first observed state 500A inwhich the first picture of a group is displayed. FIG. 7 shows the thirdobserved state 500C in which the second picture of an individual subjectis displayed.

FIG. 6 describes observed transition 500B between the two states. Asnoted before, the transition includes two separate but complementaryradial effects. Here the radial effects share a geometrical center C. Itmay be appreciated that while the two effects occur concurrently, theinitiation of the radial fade may be relatively subtle owing tomanagement of the alpha channel sequence previously described.

Typically the observer would at first notice the dominant zoomingeffect, represented by the region marked Z. However, owing to theparticular progression in the alpha series and expressed through theinterlaced alpha channel, the static second image would be progressivelyrevealed. The grayscale gradients in the alpha channels produce avignetted effect. This vignetted transition boundary cannot be directlyshown, but is suggested here by the stellate outline of fade region F.

The bold areas indicate the radial expansion of the zoom, while thelighter arrows indicate the radial transition of the area fading in. Thedirection of the effect in both reverses if the image is tilted in theopposite direction.

As noted before, if the lenticular print has been formed according tothe preceding teachings of the invention, the fade effect will expandsand overtake the area occupied by the zoom. The invention thereforeprovides a product which has the visual appeal of zoomed lenticularimage, but resolves limitations of both technology and professionalconvention in the photographic trade.

In one aspect of the present invention, the present invention can beincorporated into systems that are described in Applicant's prior patentapplication including but not limited to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 13/181,954, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/413,421, each ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

More particularly, the proportional radial effect (image) file 410 isused to form the interlaced print image layer (such as layer 96) that iscombined with a lenticular lens sheet 92 to form a lenticular product,such as product 90.

Based on the foregoing, it will be appreciated that aspects of thepresent invention can be a lineated printed image for use in cooperationwith a lenticular lens material. The lenticular lens has a predeterminedlens pitch. The printed image includes a plurality of lens fieldssubstantially equal in pitch to the predetermined lens pitch. Each ofthe lens fields includes a plurality of lines of sufficient frequency toprovide differing graphic information across the width of each lensfield within the lineated printed image. The lineated printed imagerepresents graphic data from three image phases, each of the three imagephases being associated with a portion of printed matter. Each of theportions is respectively derived from digital graphic data from one ofthe three image phases.

Each of the portions of printed matter comprises a collection offractional lens fields. Each of the collections extends at least partlyacross the lineated printed image. The lineated printed image thereforeincludes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, whereinthe first portion of printed matter incorporates visual data from afirst image, the second portion of printed matter incorporates visualdata from said first image and a second image, and the third portion ofprinted matter incorporates visual data from said second image. Thesecond portion of printed matter provides within each of at least asubset of lens fields a continuous graphical transition between thefirst portion of printed matter and the third portion of printed matter.Wherein the second portion of printed matter additionally includesprinted matter derived from a first image so that the printed matterderived from the first image includes printed matter derived from thesubject matter of the first image rendered at differing scales. Thesecond portion of printed matter additionally includes printed matterderived from the second image.

Wherein the continuous graphical transition occurs within the lensfields, about an elected location, and across the lineated printedimage, such that when the lenticular lens material of the predeterminedpitch is disposed upon the lineated printed image and compatiblyaligned, a changeable radial effect is provided that allows viewing ofboth an apparent progression in scale in the subject matter of the firstimage and a coincident radial progression in the visible area of thesubject matter of the second image.

Other features of the lineated printed image include by are not limitedto: 1) the apparent progression in scale in the subject matter of thefirst image constitutes a zoom effect to a target zoom area thatconstitutes a portion of the first image less than the entire firstimage; (2) common elements of the subject matter of the first image areshifted during the zoom in the same radial direction as the radialprogression in the visible area of the subject matter of the secondimage; (3) transition between the first portion of printed matter andthe third portion of printed matter occurs in a gradient within each ofa subset of lens fields; (4) the subset of lens fields provides acontinuous graphical transition in a preponderance of lens fields; (5)the lens can be adhered to print; and (6) the lens cannot adhered toprint, relative motion between.

While the invention has been described in connection with certainembodiments thereof, the invention is capable of being practiced inother forms and using other materials and structures. Accordingly, theinvention is defined by the recitations in the claims appended heretoand equivalents thereof.

1. A method of forming a lenticular product having a radial lenticularblending effect comprising the steps of: selecting a first image and asecond image; processing the first image and the second image to form acorrelated first image and a correlated second image, respectively,wherein the correlated first image represents a source file forproducing a zoom image; selecting a targeted zoom area within thecorrelated first image and forming an interlaced first image whichcomprises an interlaced zoom image having a zoom effect that is observedin the targeted zoom area; forming an interlaced alpha channel made upof an alpha file queue that is formed from an alpha file set, whereinthe interlaced alpha channel is interlaced at a same spatial frequencyas the zoom effect generated by the interlaced zoom image; using theinterlaced alpha channel as a selection mask to integrate the interlacedzoom image and the second image which comprises a non-interlaced, staticimage to form a merged radial effect file; producing an interlaced printimage layer based on the merged radial effect file; and combining theinterlaced print image layer with a lenticular lens to form thelenticular product.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lenticularproduct transitions from a first observed state in which the first imageis displayed to a second observed state in which the static second imageis observed.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transition from thefirst observed state to the second observed state includes two separatebut complementary radial effects that share a common center.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the common center comprises a commongeometric center.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the alpha channel isconfigured so as to progressively reveal the static second image as thelenticular product transitions from the first observed state to thesecond observed state.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the alpha fileset comprises a sequence of gray scale images that proceed from agradual transitional boundary gradient to an abrupt boundary gradient.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the zoom effect and the alpha channelshare a common center.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the interlacedalpha channel is configured such that the visual emergence of the staticsecond image is integrated with a structure of the interlaced zoomimage.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the static second image, whichis viewed as a still phase in a final image after the lenticulartransition is complete, is an inseparable part of the merged radialeffect file as a result of being applied the interlaced alpha channelwhich is constructed to be specific to the second image.
 10. The methodof claim 1, wherein the zoom area represents a discrete area of thefirst image and thus can have a center at any point within the firstimage.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the interlaced alpha channelis configured such that the second image constitutes a zoomed-in imagethat is observed in the zoom area of the first image, the second imagerepresenting a stable terminal phase of the lenticular product as aresult of the second image being a static image.
 12. The method of claim1, wherein the interlaced alpha channel is constructed such that anintroduction of the second image is initiated in a same vicinity wherethe target zoom area is centered.
 13. A method of integrating a radialzoom effect with a complementary radial image transition effect toproduce an integrated radial effect that can be used for producing aninterlaced print image for use in an lenticular product comprising thesteps of: selecting a first image and a static second image; processingthe first image and the second image to form a correlated first imageand a correlated second image, respectively, wherein the correlatedfirst image represents a source file for producing a zoom image;selecting a targeted zoom area within the correlated first image andforming an interlaced first image which comprises an interlaced zoomimage having a zoom effect that is observed in the targeted zoom area;forming an interlaced alpha channel made up of an alpha file queue thatis formed from an alpha file set, wherein the interlaced alpha channelis interlaced at a same spatial frequency as the zoom effect generatedby the interlaced zoom image; and using the interlaced alpha channel asa selection mask to integrate the interlaced zoom image and the secondimage which comprises a non-interlaced, static image to form a mergedradial effect file for use in producing the interlaced print image;wherein the integrated radial zoom effect and the radial imagetransition effect share a common center and thereby share commondisplacement paths during a perceived transition between a firstobserved state in which the first image is displayed to a secondobserved state in which the static second image is observed.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the alpha channel is configured so as toprogressively reveal the static second image during the transition fromthe first observed state to the second observed state.
 15. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the alpha file set comprises a sequence of gray scaleimages that proceed from a gradual transitional boundary gradient to anabrupt boundary gradient.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein theinterlaced alpha channel is configured such that the visual emergence ofthe static second image is integrated with a structure of the interlacedzoom image.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the static second image,which is viewed as a still phase in a final image after the lenticulartransition is complete, is an inseparable part of the merged radialeffect file as a result of being applied the interlaced alpha channelwhich is constructed to be specific to the second image.
 18. The methodof claim 1, wherein the zoom area represents a discrete area of thefirst image and thus can have a center at any point within the firstimage.
 19. The method of claim 1, wherein the interlaced alpha channelis configured such that the second image constitutes a zoomed-in imagethat is observed in the zoom area of the first image, the second imagerepresenting a stable terminal phase of the lenticular product as aresult of the second image being a static image.
 20. The method of claim1, wherein the interlaced alpha channel is constructed such that anintroduction of the second image is initiated in a same vicinity wherethe target zoom area is centered.
 21. A lineated printed image for usein cooperation with a lenticular lens material, the lenticular lenshaving a predetermined lens pitch, the printed image comprising: aplurality of lens fields substantially equal in pitch to thepredetermined lens pitch, each of the lens fields including a pluralityof lines of sufficient frequency to provide differing graphicinformation across the width of each lens field within the lineatedprinted image, the lineated printed image representing graphic data fromthree image phases, each of the three image phases being associated witha portion of printed matter, each of the portions being respectivelyderived from digital graphic data from one of the three image phases,each of the portions of printed matter comprising a collection offractional lens fields, each of the collections extending at leastpartly across the lineated printed image, the lineated printed imagetherefore including a first portion, a second portion, and a thirdportion, wherein the first portion of printed matter incorporates visualdata from a first image, the second portion of printed matterincorporates visual data from said first image and a second image, andthe third portion of printed matter incorporates visual data from saidsecond image, the second portion of printed matter providing within eachof at least a subset of lens fields a continuous graphical transitionbetween the first portion of printed matter and the third portion ofprinted matter, wherein the second portion of printed matteradditionally includes printed matter derived from a first image so thatthe printed matter derived from the first image includes printed matterderived from the subject matter of the first image rendered at differingscales, the second portion of printed matter additionally includingprinted matter derived from the second image; wherein the continuousgraphical transition occurs within the lens fields, about an electedlocation, and across the lineated printed image, such that when thelenticular lens material of the predetermined pitch is disposed upon thelineated printed image and compatibly aligned, a changeable radialeffect is provided that allows viewing of both an apparent progressionin scale in the subject matter of the first image and a coincidentradial progression in the visible area of the subject matter of thesecond image.
 22. The lineated printed image of claim 21, wherein theapparent progression in scale in the subject matter of the first imageconstitutes a zoom effect to a target zoom area that constitutes aportion of the first image less than the entire first image.
 23. Thelineated printed image of claim 22, wherein common elements of thesubject matter of the first image are shifted during the zoom in thesame radial direction as the radial progression in the visible area ofthe subject matter of the second image.
 24. The lineated printed imageof claim 21, wherein a transition between the first portion of printedmatter and the third portion of printed matter occurs in a gradientwithin each of a subset of lens fields.
 25. The lineated printed imageof claim 24, wherein the subset of lens fields provides a continuousgraphical transition in a majority of lens fields.